Banged-up Texans seek tonic vs. Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Houston Texans have excuses. Good ones at that.

They lost an All-Pro linebacker to injury. Their star receiver, perhaps the most dangerous receiver in the game, is hobbled but playing through a high ankle sprain. Their secondary is young.

"We've got some nice excuses," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "But there are no excuses in this business."

It's all added up to a once-proud defense having fallen to the point where the Texans have only been able to win this season when scoring at least 30 points. In each of their four losses, they've scored fewer than 25. A 4-4 record after a hot start that had the league buzzing means the Texans enter today's game at EverBank Field with as real a chance as the Jaguars have of winning the AFC South and making the playoffs. But to make that run, they'll have to reverse a slide.

"We've just been inconsistent," Texans offensive tackle Eric Winston said. "It's consistently inconsistent. Everyone's kind of taking turns. Our red-zone offense was one of the best in the NFL at our bye week, and last week we were two-for-six in the red zone at scoring touchdowns, and that's not going to help you get a win. We have to find a way to get a win and to produce."

The Texans started the season with a win over the Indianapolis Colts, taking control of the AFC South right from the start.

Receiver Andre Johnson suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 against the Redskins but has played through the injury.

Consequently the Texans' passing game, one of the best in the NFL last year, has descended a bit, 11th in the NFL.

Houston quarterback Matt Schaub, who had a 98.6 passer rating last season, is down to 91.3 this season.

But the Texans can still score. Their bigger problem has been defense, an area that used to be Houston's strength.

They lost two-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans in Week 6. Brian Cushing, who was a Pro Bowl outside linebacker, moved inside after Ryans' injury, but could play inside and out against the Jaguars. And despite a pass-rush featuring defensive end Mario Williams, the Texans give up more passing yards per game than any other defense: 298.2.

"We have played well at times, but in the overall picture we're giving up too many big plays," Kubiak said.

One player in particular who has struggled is rookie cornerback Kareem Jackson. Jackson placed the blame on himself for Houston's 29-23 loss to San Diego last weekend.

Defensive issues have made the offense's production even more important.

"Are they at the top of the league? No," Winston said of Houston's defense. "But I don't feel like they're letting us down at all. I feel like it's a sense that offense has to take ownership, and we got to do what we got to do to win the game."